First Looks, Release Date & Everything We Know

Picture Credit: Alan Ritchson / Netflix

Netflix has partnered with Lionsgate to produce a brand-new sci-fi action movie starring Alan Ritchson, who is becoming a highly sought-after action star. Filming concluded in late 2024 and is now prepping for release globally on Netflix for March 2026. Here’s our updated preview of the movie, including all first looks from Alan Ritchson.

Netflix’s War Machine will be directed by Patrick Hughes, whose credits include The Hitman’s Bodyguard, The Expendables 3, The Man From Toronto, and more. The script was co-written by Hughes and James Beaufort. Both Hughes and Beaufort are also attached to Netflix’s The Raid, an upcoming remake of Gareth Edwards’ 2011 action movie.

Patrick Hughes

Hidden Pictures produced the film with Todd Lieberman and Alex Young, Range Media Partners’ Rich Cook, and Hughes’ Huge Film with Greg McLean (Wolf Creek). Scott O’Brien is the executive at Lionsgate who has spearheaded the film.

Interestingly, Netflix already had an original film called War Machine starring Brad Pitt, which was released in 2017. It appears Netflix has no intention of renaming this movie.

What’s the plot of War Machine?

The plot of Netflix’s War Machine is being kept tightly under wraps. We only know a brief and vague logline for the movie:

“In the final 24 Hours of the world’s toughest selection process, a team of Army Rangers encounter a threat beyond their imagination.”

The movie is described as a sci-fi action thriller, which fits director Patrick Hughes’ resume.

Who is cast in War Machine?

Pictures: Netflix / Agencies

When the project was first unveiled, it was announced that Reacher star Alan Ritchson would lead Netflix’s War Machine. Ritchson is firmly establishing himself as a solid go-to action star of this decade and has recently appeared in Guy Ritchie’s The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, starring Henry Cavill.

Other cast members (first reported by The Hollywood Reporter) include Dennis Quaid (Reagan), Stephan James (If Beale Street Could Talk), Jai Courtney (Suicide Squad), Esai Morales (Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning Part 1), Blake Richardson (Mystery Road), Keiynan Lonsdale (The Divergent Series), and Daniel Webber (Billy The Kid).

Ritchson is the lead Ranger candidate with James, Courtney, Richardson, Lonsdale, and Webber playing other aspirants who are themselves in way over their heads. Quaid and Morales will play commanding officers in the movie.

Other actors confirmed to star in War Machine are Jake Ryan (The Great Gatsby), Jack Patten (NCIS: Sydney) as 109, Christopher Kirby (Iron Sky), Heather Burridge (Late Night with the Devil) as 122, Victory Ndukwe (We Will Be Monsters) as 135, Matt Testro (Nowhere Boys) as 38, Jacob Hua (Runner), Joshua Diaz (Fantasy Island), Alex King (The Longest Weekend) as 44, and Will Curtin (Love at First Bite) as 42.

What’s the production status of War Machine?

Development

Filming Scheduled

Filming Ongoing

Post-Production

Filming for War Machine took place between September 9 and December 17, 2024. Shooting locations were used across Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, and in New Zealand, including Wanaka, Queenstown, and Alexandra.

Runtime and Maturity Rating

We can confirm the movie has been given an R rating for strong violence, grisly images, and language.

The movie has a runtime of 1 hour and 46 minutes.

What’s the Netflix release date for War Machine?

During Next on Netflix 2026, the streamer officially confirmed the release date for Friday, March 6th, 2026. The film will be heading straight to Netflix, so there’s no opportunity to watch it in theaters.

First Looks for War Machine

On February 3rd, Alan Ritchson released a bunch of first looks for the upcoming film, teasing that a trailer would be released imminently. He added, “This one’s a doozy.”